78R3226 MTB-D


By:  King                                                         H.B. No. 900



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operation of all-terrain vehicles by law 
enforcement officers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 663.037, Transportation Code, is amended 
by amending Subsections (e) and (f) and by adding Subsection (g) to 
read as follows:
	(e)  The director of the Department of Public Safety shall 
adopt standards and specifications that apply to the color, size, 
and mounting position of the flag required under Subsections
[Subsection] (d)(2) and (g)(2).
	(f)  Except as provided by Subsection (g), this [This] 
section does not apply to the operation of an all-terrain vehicle 
that is owned by the state, a county, or a municipality by a person 
who is an authorized operator of the vehicle.
	(g)  A peace officer may operate an all-terrain vehicle on a 
public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or 
limited-access highway only if:
		(1)  the transportation is in connection with the 
performance of the officer's official duty;
		(2)  the officer attaches to the back of the vehicle on 
top of an eight-foot-long pole a triangular orange flag;
		(3)  the vehicle's headlights and taillights are 
illuminated;        
		(4)  the officer holds a driver's license, as defined by 
Section 521.001; and
		(5)  the operation of the all-terrain vehicle does not 
exceed a distance of 25 miles from the point of origin to the 
destination.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.